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| {{Infobox Single | | {{Infobox Single | | ||
| | Name = Living Next Door to Alice | | Name = Living Next Door to Alice | ||
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| ==Plot== | ==Plot== | ||
| The song is about a young man's long-standing crush on Alice, the ] and |
The song is about a young man's long-standing crush on Alice, the ] and neighbor of 24 years, which is left unrequited after she moves away. The protagonist had seen a limousine parked at Alice's home and begins to reflect on childhood memories and his friendship with Alice, and becomes heartbroken as he sees Alice get inside the limousine. | ||
| As he watches the car drive out of sight, the protagonist feels fear about two things: 1. Alice leaving without explanation; and 2. That, in 24 years, he never took the opportunity to express his feelings for her. | As he watches the car drive out of sight, the protagonist feels fear about two things: 1. Alice leaving without explanation; and 2. That, in 24 years, he never took the opportunity to express his feelings for her. | ||
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| In November 1976, the ] ] band Smokie released their version of the song. That song charted at No. 5 on the UK chart and, in March 1977, reached No. 25 on the ]. It was a Number One hit in ], ] and ]. | In November 1976, the ] ] band Smokie released their version of the song. That song charted at No. 5 on the UK chart and, in March 1977, reached No. 25 on the ]. It was a Number One hit in ], ] and ]. | ||
| === |
===Other artists=== | ||
| Concurrent with Smokie's American success with the song, country music singer ] released his own version of ''Living Next Door to Alice''. Carver's version peaked at No. 29 on the ''Billboard'' ] chart in April 1977. | Concurrent with Smokie's American success with the song, country music singer ] released his own version of ''Living Next Door to Alice''. Carver's version peaked at No. 29 on the ''Billboard'' ] chart in April 1977. | ||
| ⚫ | It spawned a more risqué version in 1995 by the ] band ], titled ''Alice, Who the X is Alice?''. In turn, Smokie collaborated on a similar version later that year with comedian ], reaching # 3 on the UK chart. | ||
| ===Gompie=== | |||
| ⚫ | It spawned a more risqué version in 1995 by the ] band ], titled ''Alice, Who the |
||
| ====Gompie version track listing==== | |||
| #Alice (Who The X Is Alice?) (Radio Bleep Version) | |||
| #Alice (Who The X Is Alice?) (Radio Laugh Version) | |||
| #Alice (Who The X Is Alice?) (Original XXX Version) | |||
| The "Radio Laugh Version" is basically a gap where the swearing was with a laugh placed to fill into the gap. The idea being to make it sound like the swearing cannot be heard because of the laughter, however it is not a very convincing effect. The "Original XXX Version" is basically the track uncensored with no bleeps or laughing, however it does not contain any special additional adult content as the title may suggest. | |||
| Another single was released with the same black cover, from Gompie with the following tracks: - | |||
| #Alice (Who The X Is Alice?) | |||
| #Alice (Who The X Is Alice?) (Demi Karaoke Version) | |||
| #My Brother Is A Rocker | |||
| #Slaves On Tbe Run | |||
| The first track on this CD and the Original XXX Version on the other CD are identical. The Demi Karaoke Version only has the shouted "''Who The Fuck Is Alice''" line removed, to be replaced with silence but the rest of the vocals in the song is the same. | |||
| Another version was released, this time with a white cover and it was three remix versions. It does not feature any versions which appear on the other two singles. | |||
| #Wonderland Mix | |||
| #Gabberland Mix | |||
| #House Club Mix | |||
| All three tracks are uncensored. | |||
| The success of Gompie's version of the song, prompted a release of an album entitled "]" | |||
| ====Smokie's new version tracklisting==== | |||
| #Living Next Door To Alice (Who The F**k is Alice?) Original | |||
| #Living Next Door To Alice (Who The F**k is Alice?) Featuring Roy Chubby Brown (Unbleeped) | |||
| #Living Next Door To Alice (Who The F**k is Alice?) Recorded Live in Ireland (Unbleeped) | |||
| #Living Next Door To Alice (Who The F**k is Alice?) Featuring Roy Chubby Brown (Unbleeped) | |||
| #Living Next Door To Alice (Who The F**k is Alice?) Recorded Live in Ireland (Bleeped) | |||
| #Living Next Door To Alice (Who The F**k is Alice?) Featuring Roy Chubby Brown (Bleeped) | |||
| Although not mentioned anywhere on the sleeve notes, track 4 is actually a ] where ] takes the lead and speaks along to the backing as opposed to Smokie singing to it. In this version, he talks about his friend Bert who has decided that he is gay, decided to dress up in womens' clothes and call himself Alice. This track contains very strong language, even moreso than tracks 2 and 3 and it can be confusing as there is nothing on the sleeve notes to distinguish it from track 2. | |||
| Tracks 3 and 5 do not feature ], but do feature the audience shouting back during the chorus. This live recording is also notable for the second refrain of the chorus as a line in it is changed from "''...tell her how I feel and maybe get a second glance...''" to "''...tell her how I feel and try and get into her pants...''". | |||
| ==Other artists== | |||
| A ] version of ''Alice, Who the Fuck is Alice?'' was released by ''The Steppers'', reaching No. 2 on the ] charts in September 1995. | A ] version of ''Alice, Who the Fuck is Alice?'' was released by ''The Steppers'', reaching No. 2 on the ] charts in September 1995. | ||
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| In 1996, eighteen time ] winner ] recorded the song under the title "Alice" on his ] winning album "Polka! All Night Long." The album included vocals by ] and contributions by ] and the ]. Sturr has won the ] in 18 of the 24 years it has been contested. | In 1996, eighteen time ] winner ] recorded the song under the title "Alice" on his ] winning album "Polka! All Night Long." The album included vocals by ] and contributions by ] and the ]. Sturr has won the ] in 18 of the 24 years it has been contested. | ||
| The 1996 album ] by ] included a cover version with altered lyrics titled ''Smurfland''. | |||
| The Smurfs also recorded a version called Smurfland. This was a verison with altered lyrics where the chorus was about how when people are feeling sad, they can always can go to Smurfland, with a few vocals shouting "Smurfland, Where on Earth is Smurfland?". This can be found on their album entitled "]" | |||
| ===Translations=== | ===Translations=== | ||
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| In Swedish, the song is a parody by the title "Blända Av Till Halvljus." | In Swedish, the song is a parody by the title "Blända Av Till Halvljus." | ||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 22:37, 29 January 2010
| "Living Next Door to Alice" | |
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| Song | |
| B-side | "Something to Say" |
| "Living Next Door to Alice" | |
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| Song | |
| B-side | "Run to You" |
| "Living Next Door to Alice" | |
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| Song |
| "Living Next Door to Alice" | |
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| Song | |
| B-side | "Alice, Who the X is Alice?" (Demi Karaoke Version) |
| "Living Next Door to Alice" | |
|---|---|
| Song | |
| B-side | "Alice, Who the X is Alice?" (Gabberland Mix) |
| "Living Next Door to Alice" | |
|---|---|
| Song | |
| B-side | "Living Next Door to Alice" (Unbleeped) |
| "Living Next Door to Alice" | |
|---|---|
| Song |
"Living Next Door to Alice" is a song co-written by Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman. Originally released by the Australian vocal harmony trio New World in 1972, the song charted at # 35 on the Australian chart. The song later became a worldwide hit for the band Smokie.
Plot
The song is about a young man's long-standing crush on Alice, the girl next door and neighbor of 24 years, which is left unrequited after she moves away. The protagonist had seen a limousine parked at Alice's home and begins to reflect on childhood memories and his friendship with Alice, and becomes heartbroken as he sees Alice get inside the limousine.
As he watches the car drive out of sight, the protagonist feels fear about two things: 1. Alice leaving without explanation; and 2. That, in 24 years, he never took the opportunity to express his feelings for her.
Another female character in the song is Sally, another longtime neighbor of the main protagonist who is introduced early in the song. In the song's first verse, she reminds the protagonist of Alice's impending departure. Sally, who later tells the man that he now must get over Alice, then states that she is available. But the man fails to acknowledge her and reaffirms that he'll "never get used to not living next door to Alice."
Cover versions
Smokie version
In November 1976, the English glam rock band Smokie released their version of the song. That song charted at No. 5 on the UK chart and, in March 1977, reached No. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was a Number One hit in Germany, The Netherlands and Switzerland.
Other artists
Concurrent with Smokie's American success with the song, country music singer Johnny Carver released his own version of Living Next Door to Alice. Carver's version peaked at No. 29 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in April 1977.
It spawned a more risqué version in 1995 by the Dutch band Gompie, titled Alice, Who the X is Alice?. In turn, Smokie collaborated on a similar version later that year with comedian Roy 'Chubby' Brown, reaching # 3 on the UK chart.
A dance version of Alice, Who the Fuck is Alice? was released by The Steppers, reaching No. 2 on the Australian charts in September 1995.
Kevin "Bloody" Wilson recorded a parody titled Living next door to Alan detailing the story of a family of Aboriginals who obtained a house next door to Alan Bond (a noted Perth based entrepreneur) in a posh riverside suburb of Perth. Dr Hook also covered the song very similarly to the Smokie's 1995 version.
In 1996, eighteen time Grammy winner Jimmy Sturr recorded the song under the title "Alice" on his Grammy winning album "Polka! All Night Long." The album included vocals by Willie Nelson and contributions by Jo-El Sonnier and the Jordanaires. Sturr has won the Grammy Award for Best Polka Album in 18 of the 24 years it has been contested.
The 1996 album The Smurfs Go Pop! by The Smurfs included a cover version with altered lyrics titled Smurfland.
Translations
In Finnish, the song was recorded in 1977 by Kari Tapio. The arrangement is by Veikko Samuli and Finnish lyrics by Juha Vainio. In Finnish, the song is titled "Viisitoista kesää" (Fifteen summers).
In Norwegian, there are at least three versions; "I 24 år har jeg bodd i samme gård som Anne", "Storholt, Stensen, Stenshjemmet, Sjøbrend åsså'n Hjallis", and "Elvis."
In Swedish, the song is a parody by the title "Blända Av Till Halvljus."
References
- http://www.poparchives.com.au/feature.php?id=1105
- http://www.milesago.com/Artists/new-world.htm
- http://www.norwegiancharts.com/
- Whitburn, Joel, "Top Country Songs: 1944-2005," 2006.
- Whitburn, Joel, "Top Pop Songs: 1955-2006," 2007.
- Suomen Äänitearkisto r.y.